Hydrotherapy apparatus



De.8,1 942 r HawATsoN I 2,304,616

r HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS Filed may e, 19:59 2 sheets-sheet 1 i [76 E(369i Elli ilW imm ' ATTORNEY 9 BY V l Dec. 8,1942. H, B, WATSON2,304,616

HYbRoTHERAPY APPARATUS Filed May Q 195.9 z'sneets-sheet 2 u lll l za Wf/ :MM/MAMMA 2 26 1 n ifalnml l NVENTOR hh/FEVE. Maro 74 v v v vATTORNEYdisturbances, and the like.

Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED STATE.

AATEN'T OFFICE HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS Harry Bates Watson, East Orange,N. J., assigno'r to Gyro Brush Co., East Orange, N. J., a corporation cfNew Jersey Application May 9, 1939, Serial N0. 272,566

(Cl. 12S-66) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a hydrotherapy ap-v paratus and moreparticularly to a hydrotherapy apparatus which may be used either asaWhirlpool bath device or as a massaging device.

Under-water therapy has been developed for the treatment of a number ofphysical conditions.

The whirlpool bath has come into use extensively for the treatment cfsuch `ailments and conditions vas arthritis, infections of` theextremities, fractures, frost and dog bites` and burns, and this hasalso been considered for the treatment of peripheral Vascular diseases,chronic muscle and joint The whirlpool bath affords relief of pain,accelerates the repair process, and improves the local circulation, andinV 1 properly selected cases constitutes a definite addiwtion totherapeutic armamentarium.

A factor which has mitigated against vthe more `general adoption of thewhirlpool bath has been the cost of an installation. The resultsobtained by the use ofA whirlpool aerated water are pronouncedly good,but the cost of an installation hasthus far prevented its generaladoption for the smaller institutions and for individual use.

A prime object of the present invention centers abo-ut the provision ofa hydrotherapy apparatus which is operable to produce a Whirlpool bathon the whirling aerated water principle and .which comprises a low costunit, within the economic reach of theindividual requiringits use.

. A further object of the present invention relates to the provision ofsuch a low cost whirl- ;DO-Ol bath device which may readily be employed.asa massaging instrument particularly for underwater massaging. To theaccomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, the invention consists in the hydrotherapyapparatus,

the combined whirlpool bath andY massaging de- Vice, and the elementsthereof, all ashereinafter described and as sought to be defined in theappended claims.

, The invention is illustrated in the accompany- ;ingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of the hydroytherapy apparatus of thepresent invention, showing the same mounted for use as a whirlpool bath;

Figure 2 is a View thereof on an enlarged scale with the handle thereofbroken away, with the casing thereof shown in cross-section in the planeof the line E-Z of Figure 3, and the rotor thereof shown incross-section in the planes of the line 2', 2' of Figure 5;

Figure 3 is a top plan View thereof;

VFigure 8;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the rotor thereof Figure 5 is a topplan View of the rotor thereof with a vpart broken away;

Figure 6 is a vertical elevational View thereof with e, part broken awayalong the lines 6-6 of Figure 3; Y

Figure '7 is a bottom plan view showing the casing thereof;

Figure 8 is atop plan View of a modified form of the apparatus withparts shown in section and showing a guard brush applied, serviceablewhen the device is used as a massaging apparatus;

Figure 9 is `a view ofthe modification taken in cross-section in theplane of the line 9--9 of Figure 10 is a bottom plan View of thismodification;

Figure 11 is a vertical elevational View of the rotor' of thismodification;

Figure l2 is a vertical elevational view thereof with the handle brokenaway and with the guard u brush detached; Iand Figure 13 is aperspective View of details showing the manner of detachably attachingthe guard brush element. y

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and having reference rst teFigures v1 to 3 thereof, the hydrotherapy apparatus of the inventioncomprises a portable unit consisting of a casing 20 provided with ahandle 22 and a water wheel rotor generally designated as 24 mounted forrotation in the casing 20. The cas- ,ing and rotor are so constructedthat when the apparatus is connected to a source of Water supply and Yissubmerged in a body of water, the water flowing through the apparatuswill cause the water wheel to rotate and the rotation of the water wheelrotor together-With the water issuing from the apparatus serve to imparta whirling action to the body of water or bath in which the apparatus issubmerged. The construction is furthermore such that the flow of waterthrough integral with the casing as by being cast in one piecetherewith, and is made in the form of a pipe, the top end of which isthreaded as at 32 for connection to a suitable source of water supplywhich, in Figure 1, is illustrated as a hose 3ft having a terminalcoupling element 35. The casing is provided with a water duct 38arranged tangentially therein, which duct communicates with the handlepipe 22. IThe casing is further provided with an air duct til, the exitend i2 of which lies adjacent the exit end 44% of the water duct 38 sothat a flow of water through the water duct will produce a suction ofair through the air duct to aerate the water entering the casing 2li.The air duct may be in the form of a threaded pipe section provided witha removable cap [16, which, when the cap is removed, is connectable to apipe or hose such as d8 (see Figure i), the top end of which protrudesabove the water level ofl a body of water into which the apparatus issubmerged when used as a whirl producing device` The water wheel rotor2d comprises a ball bearing mounting unit constructed to be set intorotation by the flow of water issuing through the water duct 3% into thecasing 25s. This preferably is made up of the two spaced discs 56 and 52held together and in spaced relation by means of the pins Eri, the discbeing provided with a series of peripherally arranged vanes 55, 5tpreferably struck up from the material of the disc 52, which vanes arearranged so as to be struck or impinged by the flow of water streamingfrom the water duct 38 in the u vdirection indicated by the arrow 58 inFigure 5 of the drawings. This water wheel is mounted in a ball bearingsupport, which comprises races Si), 6@ tted centrally to a collar t2forming part of the rotor, and complementary races 6d and -(-355 fittedon to a central stub shaft 58 with suity able balls arranged in theseraces (see Figure 2) The complementary race 5d is a cone piece fittedagainst the bottom head of the stub shai't 63 and the complementary race6i? is a cone ele- `ment which is threaded on to the upper end 15J ofthe stub shaft 65, which upper end is also threadedly received by theboss 3@ of the casing 20 and is adapted to threadedly receive a lock nut12.

The rotor unit 2li is also constructed to function as a massagingelement, serviceable when the apparatus is to be used for massagingpurposes. AThis is accomplished by attaching to the outer or exposedface of the rotor disc 52, a

flexible pad (or a brush as shown in the modii' cation hereinafter to bedescribed), such as a rubber pad 1li which may be secured by somesuitable water-resistant adhesive or in any other manner to the rotordisc 52. This rubber pad is provided with a plurality of inductionopenings 16 arranged in the body thereof and preferably circularlytowards the center thereof, and the rotor disc 52 is also provided withopenings 16' registering with these induction openings.

function acoger when the apparatus is used as a Whirlpool bath to assistin producing a whirling action of the Water and function when theapparatus is used as a massaging device to create a suction at theapplied surface and thus assist in the massaging action.

The operation of the apparatus of Figures l to 1, both as a whirlpoolbath and as a massaging device, may now be described. For use as awhirlpool bath, it may be mounted as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings,the pipe handle 22 being mounted by means of a suitable clamping device18 to the side wall of a suitable water receptacle such as a bath tubBil, the top of the handle being connected to the water supply hose 34,the air inlet pipe section 4G (with the cap 46 removed) being attachedto the air hose 48. When the casing 26 is submerged in a body of waterin the bath tub S! and the water supply faucet is opened, the flow ofwater into the casing through the water duct will impart rotation to thewater wheel 2li, the water being aerated by air drawn or inductedthrough the air hose 48. The rotation of the Water wheel, the waterissuing from the water wheel at the open side of the casing as indicatedby the arrows 32, 82 in Figure 2 of the drawings, together with thecirculation induced through the induct openings 15 as indicated by thearrows 8d, iid in Figure 2, all serve to impart a whirling action to thebody of water admixed with the inducted air, whereby there is produced amost efficient whirling of aerated water. rhe action of the water wheelon the body of water and air effects a thorough intermiXing of the airand the water and a consequent thorough subdivision and distribution ofthe air bubbles in the Water, thus producing a most efficient localagitation. When the device is to be used for under-water massaging, itis removed from the clamping device 13, the air hose 18 is detached, andthe air pipe l0 closed by the cap 46. When the rotor is operated,application of the rubber pad 14 to the body serves for massagingpurposes. The induction openings 16 act to produce a definite suctionaction which draws the skin towards the massaging element and assists inthe massaging action.

It will be noted that the apparatus provides a simple instrument whichoffers advantages not embodied in known whirlpool baths. The outstandingadvantage is that of low cost of the unit, placing the same within theeconomic reach of the individual requiring its use. Most of the standardwhirlpool baths are very expensive in comparison. The device of thepresent invention is portable and may be attached to most hot and coldplumbing fixtures, either in the office or in the home. The bath tub orlarge wash basin serve as excellent overflow recepf tacles. In thewhirlpool of the present invention, the water is always clean, and thedebris is Washed through the drain pipe. Consequently, the affectedextremity never is permitted to soak in its own slough, which occurs instandard whirlpool baths. rIhe instrument of the present invention maybe readily sterilized by alcohol or any of the other non-corrosivegermicides. The entire unit is small and light. The only power necessaryfor operation is water which is an inexpensive power source. Theapparatus is used for massage either out of or under water. Very lightunder-water massage is possible by gently stroking the skin with themassaging element. A definite suction action is produced which draws theskin toward the massaging element, giving a more vigorous massage. Thesetypes of massage combined with active and passive motion are veryefficacious in the early phases of soft tissue reconstruction. Theinstrument is easily manipulated and requires very little effort; thestimulating and refreshing eifects are found most gratifying. The'apparatus has been found efcacious in use for the treatment of thevarious physical conditions hereinbefore referred to.

In Figures 8 to 13, I showv a modification of the invention wherein themassaging pad 14 is replaced by a brush element 14'. Otherwise thestructure is the same as that shown in Figures 1 to '1 of the drawings,and similar parts are indicated by similar reference characters. v Thebrush element 14 comprises groups of bristles held in suitable orificesformed in the bottom disc 52 of the water wheel, as most clearly shownin Figure 11 of the drawings. In this form of the invention this disc 52is provided with the induct openings 16 corresponding to the inductopenings in the pad 14 of the Figures 1 to 7 form of invention.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 13, there is shown aremovable guard brush 86 which is used when the apparatus is employed asa massaging device and which functions in that event for preventing thewhirling water from spraying the patient when out-of-water massaging ispracticed. This removable guard brush may be made to comprise an annularshaped brush, the bristles 88 of which are attached to a ring 99, thesaid ring being provided with spaced vertical slots 92, 92 which areadapted to receive the similarly spaced lugs 94, 94 arranged exteriorlyon the side wall 28 of the casing 20 when the ring 90 is slipped or slidon to the casing side wall 28. By reference to Figure 13 of thedrawings, it will be seen that after the ring 90 (and the bristles 88attached thereto) is slid into position on to the casing wall 28, it maythen be locked in position by imparting a partial rotation to the same,the same being then locked between the series of lugs 94, 94 and asecond series of lugs 96, 96 spaced from the lugs 94, 94 the thicknessof the ring 99. It will be observed that in the form of apparatus shownin Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, the casing is similarly constructedby being provided with the two sets of lugs 94 and 96 for detachablyreceiving the guard brush when this form of device is to be used forout-of-water massaging purposes.

The construction and operation as well as the many resulting advantagesof the hydrotherapy apparatus of my present invention will, in the main,be fully apparent from the above-detailed description thereof. Theapparatus of the invention may be readily used either to produce awhirlpool bath or as a massaging instrument, the instrument providedbeing simple, inexpensive, and eiective in the treatment of the variousphysical conditions referred to. It is found that when the instrument isto =be used entirely under water, the guard brush should be removed,since it is unnecessary for the massaging action, and inasmuch as thewhirling eifect is increased when the guard brush is removed. Forout-of-water massaging, the guard brush is replaced by simply slippingthe same on to the casing of the apparatus and turning the same intolocked position. 'The massaging may be gentle or vigorous, dependingupon the use of the instrument. The Iball bearing mounting of thelight-weight rotor enables high speeds to be obtained, and the powerdeveloped in the rotor is su'icient to overcome the resistance appliedto the rotor when the instrument is used for massaging purposes, thesuction created through the induction openings 16 of the massagingelement assisting suii'iciently in the massaging action to render itunnecessary to apply too much pressure on the part of the body which isbeing massaged. Other of the many advantages have been set forth abovein connection with the detailed description.

It will be apparent that while I have shownv the invention in itspreferred forms, many changes may be made in the structure and in therelation of the parts without departing from the spirit of the inventiondefined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hydrotherapy apparatus comprising an open-sided casing, a waterwheel rotor mounted in said casing, said casing and water wheel rotor.being adapted to be submerged in a body of water, said water wheelrotor having vanes arranged circumferentially thereof and inductopenings arranged at the open side thereof inwardly of said vanes, awater duct in said casing disposed to cause water flowing therethroughto impinge ag-ainst the vanes of said water wheel rotor to rotate thesame, the rotation of the rotor and the water issuing from the waterwheel at the open side of said casing together with the circulationinduced through said induct openings serving to impart a whirling actionto the said body of water, and an air duct in said casing positionedwith relation to said water duct so that the flowof water through thewater duct will produce a suction of air through the air duct to aeratethe water, whereby there is produced a whirling of aerated water.

2. hydrotherapy apparatus comprising an open-sided casing, a water wheelrotor mounted in said casing, said water wheel rotor having vanesarranged circumferentially thereof, a Water duct in said .casingdisposed to cause Water flowing therethrough to impinge against thevanes of said water wheel rotor to rotate the same, an air duct in saidcasing positioned with relation to said water duct so that the ow oiwater through the water duct will produce a suction of air through theair duct to aerate the water, a closure element for said air duct, amassaging element fixed to said rotor at the open side of said casing,and induct openings in said massaging element leading into the waterwheel.

HARRY BATES WATSON.

